'Crack Should Be Available At 7-Eleven': How A Cold Email Landed This College Student A VC Job In Psychedelics

"Crack should be available at 7-Eleven, and I'm tired of pretending it shouldn't." This provocative statement, found within a bold email sent by a then-college senior, was more than just a shock factor: it was the intellectual hook that caught the eye of Jeremy Gardner, managing partner at Mystic Ventures, a venture fund focused on the medicinal applications of psychedelics.

Mack Luby isn't your typical investment associate. Before joining Mystic Ventures, he was a senior at Boston University, engaged in economics and the complex tapestry of U.S. drug policy. His journey into the heart of venture capitalism was not paved with typical stepping stones; it was charted through a profound interest in psychedelics, which began when Luby was "probably like nine or ten years old."

The story of how he entered the scene of medicinal psychedelics investment is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Mystic Ventures became his launchpad into a world where his passion for drugs metamorphosed into a professional pursuit. Jeremy Gardner, no stranger to identifying and nurturing young talent, saw something in Luby's cold email: a raw, unfiltered display of ambition and knowledge.

"When Mack cold emailed me, it was just like, "Hey, this is who I am. These are all the reasons why I'm interested. And these are the articles I've written on the relevant subject matter," Gardner recalls.

For Gardner, whose investments in young entrepreneurs often predated their exponential success stories, Luby's initial outreach displayed a level of drive and intellectual capacity that needed no further probing.

Luby's cold email to Gardner:

Luby's integration into Mystic Ventures began with an internship. An opportunity that many sought, but few were prepared to grab with the same ferocity. He came on board in the spring of 2022, bringing with him not just a background in financial management but a compelling viewpoint on drug regulation and a starkly satirical yet serious article on the need for a free market of psychoactive substances.

Within months, Luby's value became apparent. From evaluating companies to taking meetings with founders and investors, he wore many hats, all while completing his education. Gardner, reflecting on Luby's growth, shared, "By the time he was entering his senior year of college he had a full-time role."

Luby's ascent within Mystic Ventures is a testament to the power of aligning one's deepest interests with their professional life. It's a narrative of not just finding a job but creating a niche where passion and work intersect. His story, underpinned by Jeremy Gardner's mentorship, is a vivid reminder that sometimes, the most unconventional paths lead to the most extraordinary destinations.

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